French Conversation · Level 82
60 words
French word
hargne
Pronunciation
IPA/aʁɲ/
Meaning
- feminine nounaggression
Example
Il a répondu avec hargne.
He responded aggressively.
More examples
Il lança un regard plein de hargne.
He cast a hostile look.
Core concept
A bitter store of resentment that keeps turning into deliberately cutting replies.
Common phrases
regard plein de hargne
a hostile look
ton de hargne
a hostile tone
geste de hargne
a hostile gesture
Similar words
agressivité: An aggressive tendency to attack others through words or actions.
méchanceté: A tendency to be unkind and deliberately hurtful toward others.
hostilité: Enmity or antagonism directed toward another person.
rancœur: Persistent resentment or bitterness over past events.
Definition in French
Signifie une rancune active qui pousse à répondre de façon piquante ou blessante, autrement dit une agressivité verbale prolongée.
Word origin
The modern noun hargne developed from Old French hargne, but no deeper etymology is established with certainty.
Usage tips
- Avec hargne describes the manner of speaking or replying, as in répondre avec hargne.
Other meanings
- malicenoun
- ferocitynoun
Opposites
- douceurgentlenessnoun
- indulgenceleniencynoun
Related words
- hargneuxaggressiveadjective
- hargneusementaggressivelyadverb